This morning, Queen Elizabeth (opens in new tab) finally issued a substantive statement (opens in new tab) about Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's decision to "step down as senior members" (opens in new tab) of the royal family. While this drastic step may seem like a rash decision, according to one of the two friends, Princess Meghan felt much more alone, silent, and "hounded" than anyone had expected.

According to a recent report in the Telegraph by Meghan and Harry's journalist friend Bryony Gordon (opens in new tab), when she saw the Sussexes late last year, she "seemed downcast and sad. She recalled visiting them at Frogmore Cottage (opens in new tab) and said, "They lacked the energy and sparkle that I had seen before."

Gordon resorted to Harry for his game-changing interview about his mental health struggles journalist and (opens in new tab) also spoke about the "unexpected problems" Meghan faced as a royal, "loneliness, suddenly losing her voice, giving up everything she knows for love, just being hounded and pilloried, as she saw

and stated.

And when Bryony asked Megan why she didn't "give it all up," or "jack it all in," she got the impression that Megan was seriously considering it.

Specifically about Harry, Bryony writes:" Any hope expressed when we spoke about Prince Harry's mental health in 2017 seems to have evaporated." Besides, she thought he was "living through the trauma he experienced at age 12 - walking behind his mother's coffin on global television - over and over again."

Reading about this situation is devastating. I hope that Meghan and Harry can finally find some peace of mind after fully transitioning into their new roles.

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